Community Policing

What Is Community Policing?

Partnership Effective community policing has a positive impact on reducing neighborhood crime,
helping to reduce fear of crime and enhancing the quality of life in the community.
It accomplishes these things by combining the efforts and resources of the police,
local government and community members.

An Idea for the Times
Community policing is a collaborative effort between the police and the community
that identifies problems of crime and disorder and involves all elements of the community
in the search for solutions to these problems. It is founded on close, mutually beneficial
ties between police and community members. Community policing offers a way for law
enforcement to help re-energize our communities. Developing strong, self-sufficient
communities is an essential step in creating an atmosphere in which serious crime
will not flourish.

A Practical Approach to Problems
Community policing seeks the input and talents of all members of the community in
the effort to safeguard our neighborhoods Community policing is being advocated by
leaders at the highest levels of government. It has even been suggested that community
policing can play a primary role in directing the way government services are provided
at the community level.

Getting Back to the People
At the center of community policing are three essential and complementary core components:
community partnership, problem solving and change management.

Community partnership recognizes the value of bringing the people back into the policing
process. All elements of society must pull together as never before if we are to deal
effectively with the unacceptable level of crime claiming our neighborhoods.

Problem solving identifies the specific concerns that community members feel are most
threatening to their safety and well-being. These areas of concern then become priorities
for joint police-community interventions.

Change management requires a clear recognition that forging community policing partnerships
and implementing problem-solving activities will necessitate changes in the organizational
structure of policing. Properly managed change involves a recognition of the need
for change, the communication of a clear vision that change is possible, the identification
of the concrete steps needed for positive change to occur, the development of an understanding
of the benefits of change, as well as the creation of an organization-wide commitment
to change.

What Makes Community Policing Different?

Law enforcement has long recognized the need for cooperation with the community it
serves. Officers speak to neighborhood groups, participate in business and civic events,
consult with social agencies and take part in education programs for school children.
Foot, bike and horse patrols bring police closer to the community.

More Effective Ways to Solve Ongoing Problems
Law enforcement leaders seeking innovative ways to enhance performance and maximize
resources have struck a responsive chord across the nation with a variety of community
policing initiatives. Government and community leaders are increasingly cognizant
that they must accept a share of the responsibility for problems caused by lapses
in many areas of society. Police have long borne a disproportionate share of this
burden.

Renewed Emphasis on Crime Prevention
Law enforcement is looking to enhance its tough stance on crime with renewed focus
on strategies that help prevent crime, reduce fear of crime and improve the quality
of life in neighborhoods. This requires an intimate knowledge of the community.

Policing concepts currently in vogue have tended to isolate officers from the communities
they serve which can hamper crime-control efforts. Community policing allows law enforcement
to get back to the principles upon which it was founded, to integrate itself once
again into the fabric of the community so that the people come to the police for counsel
and help before a serious problem arises, not after the fact.

How Does Community Policing Work?

Expanded Policing Goals
Crime prevention takes on renewed importance in community policing as the police and
the community become partners in addressing problems of disorder and neglect that
can breed serious crime. As links between the police and the community are strengthened
over time, the partnership is better able to pinpoint and mitigate the underlying
causes of crime.

Community Policing Relies on Active Community Involvement
Community policing recognizes that community involvement gives new dimension to crime-
control activities. While police continue to handle crime fighting and law enforcement
responsibilities, the police and community work together to modify conditions that
can encourage criminal behavior. The resources available within communities allow
for an expanded focus on crime-prevention activities.

Police Services Delivered Through the Neighborhood Patrol Officer
Patrol officers and deputies are the primary providers of police services in community
policing efforts. They handle the daily policing needs of the community. The entire
police organization backs the efforts of the neighborhood officers.

Effective community policing depends on optimizing contact between patrol officers
and community members so that the officer develops an intimate knowledge of the day-to-day
workings of the community and becomes a familiar figure to community members.

Trust Is the Heart
Establishing and maintaining mutual trust is the central goal of community partnership.
Trust will give the police greater access to valuable information that can lead to
the prevention of and solution of crimes. It will also engender support for police
activities and provide a basis for a productive working relationship with the community
that will find solutions to local problems.

Given the current climate of distrust in many of our communities, sheriffs and police
chiefs and their officers will need to make a concerted effort to forge bonds of understanding
and cooperation with community members. Building trust will require ongoing effort,
but it is essential to effective community policing.

Long-Term Commitment Needed
Community policing does not offer a quick fix. It requires a long-term commitment
by police to work with community members to reach mutually agreed-upon goals. Forming
lasting partnerships to eradicate the underlying causes of crime will take effort,
time and patience on the part of all involved.

Wide-Ranging Benefits
Law enforcement is finding that in addition to bringing police closer to the people,
community policing offers a myriad of other benefits. Making effective use of the
talents and resources available within communities will help extend severely strained
police resources. As police interaction with the community becomes more positive,
productive partnerships will be formed, leading to greater satisfaction with police
services and increased job satisfaction among officers. Reduced levels of crime will
allow more police resources to be allocated to services that have the greatest impact
on the quality of community life.